The afternoon sun hung low as Mia laughed with her small group of friends outside the café near the tutoring center. They’d just finished snacks after her session with the junior kid, and the chatter flowed easily, school gossip, silly memes and weekend plans. Her phone buzzed in her pocket as she glanced at the unknown number and excused herself.“I’ll be right back,” she told them, stepping a few paces away toward the quieter side of the street.

“Hello?” she answered, shielding ...